Margate On the Other Side
by Trevor Portz
Staff Writer
With so many bands fixated on the generally all-too-real, dark side of life, sometimes it’s nice to escape to a happier place. A place where bands are more concerned about having fun and writing catchy songs that dwelling on day-to-day struggles or trying to “out heavy” everyone else. A place where melody and technicality can coexist; where feel-good rock and roll isn’t just a memory from the ’50s. That place lies On The Other Side, the appropriately titled and excellently crafted second album by L.A. three piece, Margate.
Blending note-perfect vocals harmonies, intelligently written rock riffs, and a pop-punk sensibility, Margate have managed to craft a record poppy enough for radio, but without the watered-down Disneyfication that plagues most popular rock and punk. They have proven that it’s possible to make a pop-friendly album and still retain some sense of credibility. Though this certainly isn’t the usual three-chord bubblegum rock that record labels force upon the world, it still contains all of the elements necessary to break into the simple minds of the common music-buying public.
Opening triumvirate of “It’s My Life” (not the Bon Jovi hit, thankfully), “Time & Time Again,” and “Saved It” showcase the “Margate sound,” broadcasting the above-average skill level of all three members, both in terms of writing and playing. Unusually, drummer Alex Helbig also acts as the band’s lead vocalist, and with a voice reminiscent of Colin Hay (from Men At Work, for those under 30 or exclusively metal). The smooth vocals, frequently accompanied by well-polished harmonies, are both powerful enough to carry the music and lyrics, but they also allow the underlying music to shine through.
Though occasionally delving into darker places (such as on the gun violence-inspired “Unchecked Aggression”), the lyrics tend to stay lighthearted and witty. Songs like “Believe in Steve” and “My Dog Duke” make one wonder whether the characters are based on real people (or dogs who enjoying ripping their toys’ guts out), or if they are simply figments of the band’s collective imagination. Either way, they are entertaining and keep the listener keenly amused.
Breaking yet another punk boundary, and luckily so, Margate also do an impressive job of throwing in enough variety to avoid musical monotony. Whether they’re delivering acoustic pop (the aforementioned “My Dog Duke”), a blues-driven song that could only be described as “happy Danzig” (“It Is What It Is”), or even some proggy stoner rock (closer “On the Other Side”), Margate keep things interesting and fresh, refusing to pigeonhole themselves as one specific style.
It would seem that Margate are building ground, with their songs showing up in a number of indie films, as well as performing as the house band on a Comedy Central sketch show. With a bit of luck, their next step may be feature films and Saturday Night Live. If anything, they definitely have the skill necessary to take them there.
Label: Room57Records
Web: http://margatemusic.com; http://www.myspace.com/margate
Band Lineup:
Alex Helbig (drums, lead vocals)
Doug Mitchell (guitar, backing vocals)
Steve Weil (bass, backing vocals)
Tracks:
1. In My Life
2. Time & Time Again
3. Saved It
4. Believe In Steve
5. It Is What It Is
6. A New Hope
7. Circles
8. Unchecked Aggression
9. My Dog Duke
Hardrock Haven rating 8.1/10